Now that the first round is fired, the location of the subsequent bullets can be approximated to a high degree of accuracy. With prudent choices and appropriate bluffing, success is Fukunaga’s. Except, there is a fundamental flaw with the game.

Recall that each player was awarded an additional 50 million yen, totaling a hefty 300 million yen.

But consider this: when the players know that the next two rounds contain bullets, none of them will take the shots. Therefore, both must pass and pay their respective penalty fees before proceeding. The hostess will take the shot in lieu and collect the 31 million penalty (21 from player 1 plus 10 from player 2).

If the players pass for a total of 10 times collectively (10×31 or 310 million), the two teams will end up owing the agency 10 million. (That’s why you don’t pass and trick the other into taking the shot. I can understand not wanting the chips to go to the agency but frankly I don’t think it’s as bad as Nao puts it. Given the players’ strategy and Fukunaga’s intelligence — which we know we can rely on from the previous season — the game is going in the optimal direction for Kingdom of Sun. That is to say the hostess will have to take the shot and collect the passing penalty for a maximum of five times. In reality it will happen only four times because once the first triplet of bullets are accurately localized, the position of the next three can be determined with confidence. Given Fukunaga’s behavior pattern, he will trick his opponent into firing the first round of the next set of bullets. Then the two will resort to passing the last two rounds, thus ending the game. In short, Kingdom of Sun will only lose 62/150 chips to the agency, excluding the gains (100+) earned from Kingdom of Moon.)

This is the trap Nao realized. True to her nature, she immediately searches for a “perfect” game strategy so that no one loses.

If Fukunaga’s opponent hasn’t quite figured out how the game operates, he’s certainly noticed how Fukunaga is slowly leaching him of his chips. Using the same line of logic, he deduces that Fukunaga will call pass twice and on the fifth pass, fire the round to receive a 10-chip profit. The best time to intercept Fukunaga is on the fourth pass, which will net a gain of five chips extra for the opponent himself.

But to the opponent’s surprise, Fukunaga doesn’t wait till the fifth pass. He fires on the third and takes in three chips.

The reason, as Akiyama explains, is that once we know the bullet-carrying chambers sink to the bottle after the cylinder is rotated, we can safely assume that the weight will be equally distributed between chambers 1-12 and 13-24. In other words, chambers 13-24 will be the mirror reversal of chambers 1-12. Funkunaga of course knows this and by firing early than expected, he’s planning a trap so that his opponent will fire on the 15th round, which, contains a bullet.

Surely, on the 15th round…

The fool fell for the trap and hands over another 50 chips.

But Nao calls time just as Fukunaga is in the middle of another ostentatious show of victory, taking explicit pleasure in tantalizing his victim of deception. The act throws Fukunaga off. He charges back up the headquarter in a fury but a simple “how did you make him fire” brings the giddiness back. He smugly explains that calling the shot earlier than he would’ve usually done was to perk up his opponent’s attention. Once he had the other man’s attention, he was able to throw out a piece of bait. What he did was muttering to himself — loud enough for the man across the table to hear — that his team got off a good start. They will have a 274 million lead by the end of this game. The opponent bought it and started calculating: since the score at the time was  214, the 60-point gap must indicate the number of chips Fukunaga expects to earn from the opponent’s repeated passing. A simple division tells the opponent what rounds are bound to be empty. Encouraged by the false assurance, he decided to take a chance — only to find that he’s fooled again.

Suddenly a loud noise distracts everyone in the headquarters: Kingdom of Moon’s vanguard has just been tossed down the stairs. Nao rushes to help and promises the poor guy that he will not lose this game. Dazed, the man looks up at Nao’s smiling face, not sure what to think.

When Nao returns, she explains her concern over losing money to the agency and begs Fukunaga to take the last two shots. She promises Fukunaga that she and Akiyama will win their rounds (speaking too soon, hon) and suggests that they give up their money to cover Kingdom of Moon’s debt once they win (very Nao-istic). Fukunaga refuses. It’s absurd, why should he give up the money he earned through superior intellect? But as Fukunaga is ready to walk out, Nao sits down and sighs nonchalantly, “What a pity. I had a plan to make more money but if you insist on doing things your way, then I guess I have no use for that plan.” (Ah-hah! Nao has been reading Machiavelli, hasn’t she?)

Her words hit Fukunaga’s soft spot. Aside from vanity, Funkunaga’s one weakness is greed. If there is a method to make more money that he hasn’t thought of, Funkunaga is all ears. Since there is no time left to hear the plan, Fukunaga rejoins the game, taking Nao’s remark on faith.

With tremendous effort, Funkunaga musters the determination to take in the last bullets and ties the game. When he returns to ask Nao about the plan, she tells him with a winning smirk, “Oh that. I lied. After all, this is liar game.” (LOL! I had a real kick out of that one.)

Although Fukunaga isn’t exactly thrilled, it’s too late to do anything.

Soon, the next round of game starts. This time, it’s 17 poker.

Rules for 17 Poker

Different from conventional poker, 17 cards are used in this game (J-K plus Aces and one Joker, as illustrated below).

The hand ranking hierarchy are as follows, in order of biggest (#1) to smallest (#8):

The cards are shuffled twice (Hindu shuffle and Riffle shuffle, if you’re interested). The players must bet a minimum of five chips and a maximum of 15 chips as their startup bet. Once the cards are dealt, the players have three choices: 1) Raise (increase the bet) 2) Call (follow the opponent’s bet by tossing in the same amount of chips) or 3) Fold (give up the hand; both players lose the startup bet and player 2 takes in player 1’s bet).

After both players make their decisions (raise, call, or fold), they have the option to change hands. After changing hands, the two players can increase the bet by a maximum of 30 chips. The players then show their cards. The winner takes all the chips on the table.

Like the first game, the practice round proceeds the actual game. Nao participated and is brutally slaughtered.

The outcome of the game relies on the joker. Since the joker acts as a wild card, the lowest hand a person will get with the joker is Three Cards. In addition, there are seven cards in the stack before the players change hands. After changing hands, there is only one left in the pile. In most cases, one of the two players will have the joker after changing hands. In plain English: if you don’t have it (the joker), your opponent probably has it.

Then there is the problem of creating false impressions. If player A starts off with a strong hand, he wouldn’t want to convey that information to player B, whether through the amount A is willing to bet (bigger bet typically means more confidence) or subtle facial expressions, because player A can lose the opportunity to win if B decides to fold. Even if A tricks B into calling or raising in the first round, if A doesn’t request for a change of hand, B might still suspect a strong hand and decide to fold in round two. However, if A does decide to chance luck, he may end up with a weaker hand than started — but it doesn’t matter because whoever has the joker is in control and will always win. All in all, it’s a game of deception and there is much to consider.

After the practice, the real game starts. Although Akiyama established himself as the invincible strategist through three rounds of Liar Game, the background of his opponent indicates an equal match. In fact, Akiyama may be in danger of being defeated for the first time; his opponent, in fact, has already figured out a way to win.

The game starts. Akiyama gets a hand of Straight. He bets 10 chips. His opponent calls. The next round, Akiyama breaks up his Straight and changes cards. He still bets 10 chips. His opponent calls again. As the final cards are revealed, Akiyama has a hand of 3 Cards (the lowest possible combination with the joker) and his opponent, 2 Pairs. Akiyama wins.

The next round ends in Akiyama’s victory as well. Encouraged by the ostensible lead, Nao and Fukunaga cheer happily. Little do they know, this is all part of the opponent’s plan.

—

Comments

First of all, it would make an interesting case if Akiyama were to lose, which is improbably but not impossible. If Kanzaki Nao represents morality then Akiyama Shinichi is the brain of the show. Imagine how intriguing it would be for the brain to stumbles and have learn to regain balance? No doubt, it would intensify the competition by giving Nao a tremendous amount of pressure so that she must win for the game to consider a draw. More importantly, it would add depth to the character so that the story isn’t predominately plot-driven.

I always think Nao is too far removed from reality, consequently it’s nice to see her tricking someone instead of being tricked. The change speaks of growth, that Nao is shedding some of her naivety while retaining her innocence. It makes her seem more human.

Fukunaga as a person would never be my choice of friend. Him as a character, however, gains my affection. He is flawed. Calculating, greedy, morally ambiguous… You name it, he has it. But I find him the most versatile (props to the actor). He can be so god damn smug one minute that you just want to slap him. Then the next minute, he’s contained and cool. I think the mental struggle where Fukunaga battles between pulling the trigger or passing the turn is especially well played. You can see his face darken and all the passion draining from his eyes.

He can’t have believed Nao completely when she said she knew a way to profit more. Instead, the hidden goodness in him is slowly uncovering and greed is just Fukunaga’s excuse to disguise the softness in him. The same way he betrayed Yokoya at the critical last minute of round three’s game.

One complain I have with this episode is that many times hints that the opponent comes from a past that makes him well matched for Akiyama. However, the background is never revealed (though one can guess). On the one hand viewers’ interest might be piqued by the suspense, on the other, I have not been given a solid reason to anticipate the face-off.

With more and more new songs featured in the recent episodes (think it was 12 and 14), I knew there would have to be a second OST. And here it is (revised and re-uploaded)!

Track List:

1. I’m a Fool
2. Without a Word (Jang Geun Suk version)
3. What Should I Do
4. Goodbye
5. Lovely Day (acoustic version)

Episode 30

Off they go to see the baby.

And the story went something like this:

100 years ago when ChangQing was still Lin YePing, jealousy destroyed his marriage with ZiXuan. Days after she left him, she found out she was pregnant. But civil unrest got in the way and she was never given a chance to divulge the good news (even if she did, he might’ve thought the child was conceived with another man — in the heat of the moment). Then he came charging to her part of town in search for answers. Alas, he died and never learned about the baby.

Now that he has, he decides to sacrifice his child for mankind. After all, it is he who unleashed XieJianXian out in the world.

It’s a grand gesture alright but the more ChangQing looks at his baby daughter, the more reluctant he becomes. Then a storm breaks the flying boat, delaying ChangQing’s trip back to Mt. Shu.

But the folks at Mt. Shu can’t wait. They need the fifth and last elemental Pearl to help them safely retrieve Fei Peng’s sword from Suo Yao Towel. Of course you get the little bickering about who should risk whose life by going into the tower and naturally the hero of the show wins and sets out on the mission. (It was his sword anyway.)

The night before Jin Tian is to enter Suo Yao Towel, everyone is jumpy in anticipation for the big day. It is especially hard for LongKui, whose memory of losing her kin brother haunts her still.

The next day Jin Tian gets ready to enter the tower. XueJian insists on coming along, Jin Tian relents. Before entering the hellhole, Jin Tian and XueJian are given a bag of tools to ensure their safety return.

Although the lack of Water Pearl presents a large threat to the hero and shero’s lives, — they are, after all, isolated in a world of menace — Jin Tian is certain that ChangQing will eventually come around and make the “right” sacrifice. All he has to do is to hold off the attacks inside the tower for as long as he can and have faith.

They say their last goodbyes and enter the abyss.

On the flying boat, ChangQing is feeling conflicted. An extra day spent with his daughter has secured his bond with her. With each mile closer to Mt. Shu, his fear for the time of separation grows a fold. Then giving in to selfish intent, ChangQing creates another disturbance, hoping to delay the trip further.

Jin Tian and XueJian arrive at the eighth level of the Suo Yao Tower. They see no evil spirits nor demons but a trial of fresh blood leads them down to the next level.

Down they travel, bewildered by the outward peace.

Suddenly, a feeling hits Jin Tian. With the premonition comes flashing images: LongKui was here. She had entered the tower after her melt down, hoping to sweep the path before her brother sets foot. But the demons have pounced on her, hurt her, and dragged her to level two, where all are waiting for the chance to break free.

Episode 31

To get to the next level, Jin Tian and XueJian must first find a “key”. But there is nothing except for a wall full of words in front of them.

Out of desperation, they start feeling the walls for a hidden switch. Luckily, after only a few attempts of trial-and-error, they find it and move on to the next level — but what welcomes them is the first wave of attacks.

In the meantime, ChangQing has made up his mind. As much as it hurts, the sacrifice is inevitable.

Jin Tian and XueJian burn the attackers, find LongKui, save her, and head steadfast to the next level. They encounter a door keeper. The door keeper has been waiting for her lover for 300 years (he’s allegedly more handsome than Jin Tian). She opens the door for them, under the condition that they will return to tell her whether he is alive or dead.

The door opens to a foul-smelling blood fountain. Jin Tian uses one of his last weapons and drops the other in the fountain. Low on ammunition, they are captured and brought to the king of evil spirits, a childish fellow called Tian Yao Huang.

Jin Tian challenges Tian Yao Huang and gets beaten to a pulp, quite literally. While the battle drags on, ChangQing is heading back to Mt. Shu in full speed.

And…

The Water Pearl is extracted from the baby.

The five Elemental Pearls are gathered at last and sent to re-seal the tower.

Once the Elemental Pearls have sealed the tower, they scatter again.

Although the tower is sealed, Jin Tian, XueJian — who does nothing at all –, and LongKui are trapped in with Tian Yao Huang. The fight continues, sometimes with LongKui against Tian Yao Huang, sometimes with Jin Tian against him. When success seem a mile away, Jin Tian discovers Fei Peng’s Zhan Yao Sword. Retrieving the weapon, Jin Tian is able to defeat Tian Yao Huang and accomplish his mission.

ChangQing then shows up to lead the bunch out of the tower. Seeing the disheveled Jin Tian, he remembers the time when he was on the verge of death and JinTian carried him up the mountain. Using the same ploy to keep Jin Tian conscious, ChangQing asserts, “When you die, I will kill XueJian, kill your sister. I will burn Yong An pawnshop, I will destroy the relics… Don’t keep me from being a bad man, hurry up and die!” XueJian and LongKui chime in but Jin Tian cuts them off, “If you want to imitate me, at least do a good job of it. Now, will you please hurry up? I can’t hold on any longer.”

Episode 32

After a few days spent in coma, Jin Tian wakes up. Except for the fact that he’s all bandaged up, Jin Tian is fine. But ChangQing isn’t so lucky. The prospect of losing his daughter hit him hard. Luckily the five masters on Mt. Shu have considered the sacrifice and did what they can to sustain the baby’s life. But to help her grow, they need a Pearl that existed only in legend.

Any chance to save the baby is a chance worth taking. Therefore the bunch decide to embark on a journey in search for the legendary pearl.

With master QingWei’s help, they travel to a land by sea, where the legendary pearl is said to bury in the ocean. Amidst the travel, MaoMao gets distracted and lands on no man’s land. The explanation for such an arrangement is that by landing on the unknown place, MaoMao will escape the bleak fate that’s to befall on mankind — as a reward for his kindness. (It sounds more like a punishment. Consider this: he is completely, utterly alone. There is no one to talk to, no means to pass time, worse yet, I don’t see any food.)

To learn about the legendary pearl, we have to hear a tragic love story first.

The story is about an extraordinary young man named XiFeng. XiFeng was gifted with a beautiful voice and condemned with an ugly appearance. He didn’t mind how he looked because his music could bring peace and happiness to people. Then one day he found out that he could record his voice in sea shells.

He made many sea shells so that everyone can pick up a sea shell and listen to him sing. Slowly the sea shells started to flow upward and ended up in heaven. The goddess of river Shui Bi picked it up and was mesmerized by the voice of this stranger man. She descended down to the mortal realm to search for the owner of this voice.

She found him eventually but the fear that his appearance might drive the goddess away kept him from her. He would leave a sea shell at her door every morning but when she came knocking, he would hide inside, too chicken to reveal himself.

Tormented by insecurity and a conflicting desire to be with Shui Bi, XiFeng made a pack with ChongLou the demon Lord. He sold his beautiful voice and 500 years of freedom for a normal visage.

The morning after the pack was made, Shui Bi opened door to a trial of seashells and followed them to the coast. There, she saw XiFeng for the first time. She asked him to sing for her, just her. He shook his head, he could sing no more. She didn’t press him and spent a wordless day with him. But soon, dusk set in and ChongLou came to claim his slave.

When Shui Bi woke up, XiFeng was gone. There, instead, was a letter. “500 years”, it promised, “I’ll come back for you in 500 years.”

Shui Bi waited and waited.

But 500 years past, XiFeng didn’t return. Slowly, she turned into a statue and sinked to the bottom of the ocean.

The legendary pearl is said to be with the statue, in the palace on the ocean floor. There is a time every year where a fish skeleton will raise to the surface of the ocean. Only people whose magic level is compatible with the skeleton will be able to command it and pave the way to the ocean palace.

Tonight, it surfaces…

—

I’m tired and still have exams to study for. So, let’s reserve the adventure for next time.

Posted in CDrama, Chinese Paladin 3, Recap ]]> http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/chinese-paladin-3-episodes-30-32/feed/ 2 irugnotmis http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/liar-game-2-1/ http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/liar-game-2-1/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:18:24 +0000 irugnotmis http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/?p=10484 ]]>

Two years of blissful normalcy, and then the familiar but much dreaded black envelop reappears.

She enters reluctantly — scanning the premise all the while — half expecting a box full of cash, half hoping it won’t be there.

Then light flickers on and party poppers shower down on her.

“Happy birthday Nao-chan!” her friends cheer in unison. Still stunned by the set up, Nao Kanzaki relaxes. It’s a birthday surprise. The Liar Game invitation isn’t real.

A brief recap ensues to retell Nao’s first encounter with the mysterious organization (LGT) that carried out Liar Game. Real quick: it happened to Nao two years ago when a box consisted of 100 million yen was mailed to her. She was forced to play the Liar Game against her former teacher. The objective of the game was to strip her opponent of his money in the span of 30 days. At the end of the 30-day period, the winner got to keep however much (s)he obtained minus the start up 100 million yen; the loser was left in debt.

Nao’s trusting nature caused her to lose her stake in entirety very early on. Out of desperation, she sought help from Akiyama Shinichi, a genius scam artist, and ended up winning the first round of Liar Game. Too generous to see her former teacher struggle with debt, she gave up her prize to regain his hope in mankind. (Due to unfortunate circumstances, he had ceased to believe in the goodness of people.) This gesture resulted in insufficient fund to withdraw from the second round of Liar Game (to withdraw, one must pay half of what was won). She was sucked in for another round, then another. At the end of the third round, Akiyama met with the man who reportedly created Liar Game.

After that Akiyama and Nao split. Nao returned to her usual life and Akiyama left to travel the world. They both thought Liar Game was over for them.

But today, on Nao’s birthday, a big black box waits at her door. She freezes in mid-step but the fear quickly subsides as she reasons that it must be another surprise present from her friends. She unwraps it and opens the lid. Staring up at her is 100 million yen. There is a long pause, then she pulls the lid over the money. Silently counting to three, she lifts the lid again. The money is still there. “It can’t be!” she exclaims. “It’s true,” Tanimura Mitsuo, the police who later revealed to be part of the LGT in season one, shows up behind Nao and tosses the fateful black envelop onto the pile of money, “You can’t escape it.”

Recovering from the initial shock, Nao conveys her desire to withdraw from the game. Given how round three played out, she is able to surrender half of her winning and walk away with no debt. But Tanimura convinces her otherwise. “Round four is going to be more dangerous. More players will be sacrificed. Can you honestly sit around and allow it to happen? Perhaps you can change Liar Game.”

Meanwhile, two other potential players are handed a game invitation: Akiyama Shinichi, who has returned to Japan after receiving a doctorate in Psychology, and Katsuragi Ryo.

After much debate, Nao finds herself back for a fourth round of Liar Game. On the ride to the first game site, Nao meets Ryo, who’s heading towards a different destination. As Nao hurries off the vehicle, Ryo suggests to her, “Let’s meet again, if we both survive this first game.”

Stepping into the ruinous first game site, Nao feels uneasy by the desolate setting around her. But her fear soon relaxes at the sight of familiar company. Both Fukunaga Yuji (from first season) and Akiyama Shinichi were chosen to participate as her teammates. Like Nao, Akiyama came with a mission; but unlike the compassionate Nao, Akiyama’s goal is more curiosity driven: he wants to meet the real mastermind of Liar Game and uncover its dark secrets.

With the arrival of the last participant, Solario opens the game.

(It seems self-explanatory but lets establish it anyway: the ultimate goal for every game isn’t to win. It’s to find the best strategy so no one loses.)

Game Structure

The six players are split into two teams: The Kingdom of Sun (which consists of Nao, Akiyama, and Fukunaga) and The Kingdom of Moon. Each player is assigned a role in the kingdom (the vanguard, the middle rank, and the general). The game is designed to operate on a one-on-one basis. The vanguard from Kingdom of Sun will compete with the vanguard from Kingdom of Moon; the general from one kingdom will compete with the general from the other kingdom; etc.

Whichever kingdom wins two out of the three games completes the round without punishment.

Rules for the Round

Each player is given 100 game coins, worth on million each, in place of the cash they first received. An additional 50 coins are loaned out to them, resulting in a total of 150 coins or 150 million yen equivalent. At the end of the game, 100 coins will be recollected by the agency. The remaining 50 million yen, if kept intact, will be the player’s reward.

If any player is unable to return the whole of 100 million, whatever unpaid amount will become the team’s debt to the agency. Meaning the average of total asset minus total liability for any given team will equate the players’ net worth at the end of the game.

As the players disperse to discuss the role they want to play, Ryo arrives at her own game site. In her meek yet unfathomable way, she smooths a fellow participant’s agitation and promises a chance to win.

As all six of the players finalize their decisions, Solario announces the first game: 24-chambered Russian roulette.

Russian roulette is a game invented by the Russian soldiers to chance death. In the game, a single bullet is randomly placed in a revolver. The cylinder is spun before the participants pull the trigger against their heads.

In this revised version, the revolver houses a total of 24 chambers and is specially made so that when fired it will not harm the player. However, if a gunshot is sounded then the player dies in the game.

Rules for Russian Roulette

The two players are given a total of six bullets. They must each designate three places to insert the bullets by marking them with a pencil (the chambers are numbered 1-24). The revolver is then spun on the table and the direction it stops at indicates player 1. Player 1 starts the game but has the option to pass. If so chooses, he or she must surrender one chip. It is now player 2’s turn. If player 2 also chooses to pass, (s)he must give up two chips (or 1×2). In the case that player 1 should decide to pass again (this counts as the third pass), (s)he will lose four coins (or double the amount the last player paid for passing). There is a total of five possible passes (at which point player 1 would have been penalized for a sum of 16+4+1=21 chips and player 2, 8+2=10 chips). When five passes are up, the hostess will collect all the coins and pull the trigger herself.

Each time a player dies in the game, (s)he loses 50 coins. The game is over when all six of the rounds are fired.

However, if player 2 decides to fire the shot after player 1 has chosen to pass, there are two possible outcomes. If player 2 dies from the shot, (s)he loses 50 coins to player 1 and player 1 gets however many chips the two players were charged for passing (see Illustration1). If player 2 survives the shot, (s)he gains all the penalty chips on the table (see Illustration 2).

Illustration 1

Illustration 2

A practice round follows to ensure good understanding of the game. While Nao participates, Fukunaga, who’s the designated player for this game, observes.

First is to decide where to place the bullets. Akiyama leans in and mutters three numbers — 18, 20, and 24 — to Nao. She obediently bubbles them in. When all the bullets are placed and the gun spun, Nao is set to go first. Without hesitating, she passes. Her opponent assesses the situation and decides to try his luck. (Of course he will, there is a 75% chance that he’ll survive.) There is no bullet in the chamber, he wins one million worth of token from Nao.

Thinking that there is still a 17/23 survival rate, Nao takes the chance. Unfortunately, she dies and loses another 50 coins. When the practice ends, the Kingdom of Sun is deeply in debt. (Good thing it’s practice huh?)

After a mini break, the real game starts.

As Nao watches worriedly, Akiyama comforts her that the mock game didn’t go to waste. For instance if at least one player placed all three bullets in consecutive order, then when the first round goes off, there is a 50% chance that the next round will also go off. If indeed, the second round went off, then the third round must contain a bullet. This piece of knowledge can play into a participant’s decision making process and potentially benefit him. Besides, there is one more trick to the game…

Before Akiyama can divulge the extra piece of information, the game starts.

The revolver is spun and the order decided. Fukunaga goes first.

He picks up the revolver and studies it carefully… Then, “Ohh!” he exclaims, as if noticing something. He puts down the gun, whips out a chip, and says, “Pass.” — all done in a decisive and fluid manner. (Ah-hah! He’s bluffing already!) The gun is placed in front of Fukunaga’s opponent, who picks it up dubiously and studies it.

“Why did he say ‘oh’ when he looked at it?” doubt sets in. (He’s bluffing, dummy!) When no answer can be extracted from turning over the revolver, the opponent hesitantly reaches for two chips to pass. “Pass!” Fukunaga tosses in four more before his opponent even sets his two down. Naturally, his decisiveness throws his opponent off, who in turn loses more chips out of self-doubt.

When the turn comes back to Fukunaga, he takes the shot annnnd… safe!

His opponent wails in anger, he’s deceived! (Yes buddy, that’s why it’s called Liar Game.) Fukunaga breaks into a wide grin.

The game is just starting and the opponent’s confidence is already in shambles. He buries his head in his hands to contemplate his option but Fukunaga’s hysterical laughter breaks his concentration. He looks up slowly to face Fukunaga’s uncontrollable mirth. “You bought it!” Fukunaga scorns, “I’ll let you in on a secret.” He pauses for dramatic effect, “I can see… I CAN SEE WHERE THE BULLETS ARE!” Sweating profusely the opponent tries to persuade himself that Fukunaga is only lying. No one can see it.

Reinforcing his control, Fukunaga jumps onto his seat and repeats, “I. Can. See. The. Bullets.” His opponent drops the revolver and decidedly gives up a chip to pass. Fukunaga picks up the gun, fiddles with it, and says pleasantly, “Ah-hah, I’ll pass this one as well.” Distrusting his better judgment (or the law of probability), the opponent passes another opportunity. When the revolver returns in Fukunaga’s hands, he presses the trigger and earns another five shiny coins.

For the next six shots, Fukunaga dominates the game.

His confidence is fueled by a basic understanding of physics. When a bullet is inserted into the chamber, it disrupts the weight distribution in the cylinder and creates an imbalance. Once spun, the heavier chambers (with the added weight of bullets) are pulled to the bottom of the cylinder by the force of gravity.

Unbeknownest to Nao, Akiyama has conveniently “leaked” the tip that placing the bullets in consecutive order will make prediction more feasible. Given the monotonic nature of greed, the Kingdom of Moon will most likely follow his advice. This ensures that all of the bullets will fall to the bottom of the cylinder.

In the meantime, Fukunaga has taken eight shots and is no longer in the safe zone, his next step is to coax his opponent into taking the ninth shot.

Suddenly, Fukunaga’s opponent starts to cackle. Quiet at first, the eerie laughter picks up in both loudness and intensity. The opponent reaches for the gun and pulls the trigger. Boom. The sound smothers the laughter, the opponent collapses face first onto the table.

This shot further decapitates the opponent team’s morale. Slumping on the table, Fukunaga’s opponent silently endures as Fukunaga flaunts his success by singsonging a request for cream soda. Kingdom of Moon calls for a break.

How did Fukunaga trick his opponent into firing when the latter has been passing his turns all these time? He used lead from the pencil that was given to him at the start of the game and marked six places on the revolver (which is a stretch for me since it would be difficult to find time to do so without being discovered). Under extreme stress, his opponent mistook the markings as indicators of the bullets’ position. The mistake cost him 50 coins.

Kingdom of Sun seems to be taking a lead but somehow there is something wrong with the picture…

Yes, they’ve made a grave mistake and it may cost them their victory.

—

Comments

I apologize for the manner in which the rules are explained. For precision purposes, certain details call for dense writing. I hope I’ve made the gaming rules clear at the very least.

And now, about this episode.

I enjoyed it. As dark (in theme and color scheme) as this drama is, there is a morbid injection of humor that adds variation to the intensity of the plot. It’s engaging, stimulating, and all together my type of drama. I haven’t had that much satisfaction writing a recap in a pretty long time and I hope this drama sustains the same level of interest for me throughout its broadcasting period.

Posted in Dorama, Liar Game 2, Recap ]]> http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/liar-game-2-1/feed/ 6 irugnotmis http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/next-stop-happiness-episode-6-recap/ http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/next-stop-happiness-episode-6-recap/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:26:47 +0000 irugnotmis http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/?p=10431 ]]>

Jason Zhang (Zhang Jie) – Custom Made [download]

“Having a tumor doesn’t mean you have to act like a melodrama protagonist. C’mon loosen up!” says patient x. (Aside: this is a double irony. The writer is poking fun at the 101 melodramas out there. But the slap in the face is that: this drama isn’t all that different.)

If Mucheng and Guangxi are the “glass-half-empty wanting to be half-full” kind, then patient x and girlfriend y are the “glass-half-full, carpe diem” kind. They saw Mucheng and Guangxi walking out of the cancer patient sector and decide to share their own two cents. X has a ticking time bomb in his head too but he ain’t letting no self-pity get in the way. To him, everyday is to be celebrated and cherished. In fact, after x’s upcoming operation, he and his girlfriend are getting married! (Watch, he dies tomorrow.)

If that isn’t inspiration enough to renew Guangxi’s hope, then Mucheng’s home cooking surely is.

Now that the tumor secret is out, there’s no need to waste perfectly good food. (*Ahem*) And so Mucheng prepares her father’s favorite dish for Guangxi again. They promise each other that this — Mucheng fixing Guangxi’s meal — will not be a memory. He will get better to eat her cooking everyday.

The following day, Guangxi heads to the hospital to hear his diagnosis. He deliberately sends Mucheng away to shield her from the bad news. She goes for a physical check up (Guangxi’s worried what the past few days’ intense care might do to Mucheng’s health). Heading out of the check up, Mucheng bumps into girlfriend y.

Only yesterday girlfriend y was laughing and sharing the joy of her forthcoming marriage. Today, it’s as if she’s lost a piece of her mind.

She sinks into a nearby chair, letting a piece of paper fall. Mucheng picks it up; it’s a death certificate. Needless to say, there will be no wedding to attend.

I was joking about patient x dropping dead… But, what do ya know, this is a true melodrama. And all true melodramas have the part where the disapproving rich parent — Ah yes, the parent has to be rich. Why else would (s)he disapprove of an other wise innocuous relationship between the rich and the poor? — separates the sick love birds. (Notice the key word “sick”?) And here, we get our fair share of the stale plot, recycled from… Winter Sonata maybe? But with a little tweak:

In short, Mama Ren tells Mucheng about Proton Therapy, divulges her plan to coax Guangxi into accepting the treatment, and guilt trips Mucheng to carry out the deception. How can Mucheng deprive Guangxi of his last chance of survival? Oh no she can’t. So the only alternative is to ensure that Guangxi undergoes the therapy. Assume the intervention does save Guangxi, what should Mucheng do then to repay Yiqian and her father for providing the capital necessary for the procedure? (Nothing. Because they offered to help.) She will leave Guangxi.

It is now clear to Mucheng that whether Guangxi lives or dies, she won’t be with him for long. If you are in the same situation, what would you do? Make the best out of what you have right? Same with Mucheng. She takes the initiative and asks Guangxi out on a date, “For one day, let’s forget about the tumor, forget about the meds. We’ll have fun. We’ll relax before your big day.”

When the sun shines the next day, Guangxi and Mucheng are off to make memories.

There is no dining at a fancy restaurant, no snuggling in the movies, they simply walk the bridge and swing the swings. But to Mucheng, this is the best date she’s ever had (not that she’s been on a lot of dates to compare it to) because being with each other is worth more than diamond rings and empty promises.

They walk into a photo studio upon Guangxi’s request. The photographer tells them the story of his wife, whom he lost to an accident some 40 years ago. The old man laments how memories fade, only snapshots capture the moment. The comment provokes a reaction in Mucheng, will she forget about them? Will Guangxi?

At the end of the photo shoot, the photographer sells Mucheng a lucky bracelet with SD card storage capability. She gives it to Guangxi as a good luck charm for the next day’s operation (and something to remember her by).

Their last stop is happiness (← pardon my corniness there) to the church. They pray and watch the wedding procession of a pair of strangers together. As the priest asks the groom whether he would take the woman next to him to be his wife, Guangxi turns to Mucheng and answers, “I do.” Off Mucheng’s stunned look, he repeats, “I do”. But Mucheng lets go of Guangxi’s hand and runs out. When he follows her out, she has recollected herself and lies that his sudden confession startled her. Guangxi suspects nothing.

The date is over at the end of the day. The rest is saying goodbye and going into the Operation Room.

As promised, once Guangxi is carted in, Mucheng is pushed out. She boards a bus home and packs her belongings.

In the OR, a nurse attempts to removes Guangxi’s lucky bracelet. He flinches but the nurse assures him that no bracelet is allowed during the operation. Guangxi eventually relents, but it is not without reluctance.

Soon Guangxi is sedated and ready to be transported for Proton Therapy. (The drama treats Proton Therapy as if it’s a surgical procedure when really it’s a type of radiotherapy that requires multiple sessions. What I’m saying is that the whole kicking Mucheng out of the picture once Guangxi is in the OR doesn’t work. To me, it’s little things like that that brings down the quality of a drama.)

What’s a melodrama without a weepy bus chase and a hurtful breakup forcibly bestowed on our characters? No sir, that’s no way to be. So we’ll have them both because I don’t think we’ve met our tear quota for this episode yet. (Haven’t even used a singled tissue! And that’s definitely NOT what should happen during a melodrama.) There is only one problem: Guangxi is unconscious.

No worries because the next thing you know, Guangxi has suddenly woken from the sedative that’s designed to put him down for three to four hours and wills himself to find Mucheng in his half-drugged state. But hey, when all else fails, we can always plant something improbably and call it a miracle right?

When Guangxi stops Mucheng and implores her to come back to him, she puts on a good show to discourage him. (I guess it’s fair. Last episode he pushed her away, this episode it’s her turn to “avenge”. So to speak.) She tells him about patient x’s death. “Did you know it took Huici (girlfriend y) two hours to write the name on the death certificate? One moment he’s fine, the next he’s dead. Did you remember how Jiada (patient x) was in a more promising condition than you? And now? There’s only the name on the death certificate left. When I met her that day, I realized how naïve I was to want to be there for you until the end. I’m really scared. I’m afraid that one day you will suddenly disappear. Just like my mother… my father… and auntie. I’ve watched too many people go. I don’t want that to happen to me anymore. So this time, I’ll go first.”

Despite Guangxi’s pleading, she gets on Tuoye’s van and drives away, leaving Guangxi to chase in bare feet.

Inside the car, Mucheng opens the letter she received that morning: it’s the photograph of her and Guangxi. She fingers the image lovely and turns to the back, where Guangxi wrote:

Dear Mucheng:

When you read this, I may still be in the OR fighting for our future. Or maybe I failed…. Whatever the case, thank you for entering into my life and bringing with you what’s to become my happiness memory since my father’s death.

… If a man’s memory capacity is reduced to one second then this is the moment I want to capture and frame for the rest of my life….

I promised you that I will prevail against life’s cruel joke but if I were to lose, please promise me you will do the following: go home and go to sleep. When you wake up again, pretend Ren Guangxi and everything about this person is but a dream. A long, long dream. When you wake up again, it’s time to forget. Don’t cry. Don’t feel sad. And when the man who can bring you happiness appears, accept him and live happily. Just, think of me occasionally. I’ll watch over you from another place.

Love,

Guangxi

Like a leaking faucet, tears drip down Mucheng’s cheeks. No longer able to conceal her feelings, she bids Tuoye to turn around.

Meanwhile, kneeling on the pavement, Guangxi is sobbing uncontrollably. Ah Cai, who was lurking in a dark alley, makes a beeline towards Guangxi and stabs him in the abdomen. With a thud, Guangxi falls…

—

Comments:

This episode is basically the obligatory tearjerker before we can move on to the next stage, which hopefully will be more exciting. I think the reason I don’t find myself investing much of my energy with the past three episodes has to do with how the angst is handled. To me, good angst is situational where irony, bad timing, or other nonhuman factors key in to provoke a helpless feeling (Tangent: You are Beautiful has a lot of that, which I dig.) In contrast, the kind of trite angst we see a lot here is artificially induced via parent intervention or financial necessity. There is a surrealism about these situations that makes it hard to relate.

Of course, there’s also the matter of conflicting values and beliefs. On a personal level, I find the idea of separating Guangxi and Mucheng so Guangxi can be with Yiqian and save the family business absurd. Money can be earned and businesses can be saved, but it is not everyday that you can find someone you’ll love and be loved in return.

Despite my general disappointment, there are two things I like about this episode. The first is the argument Mucheng uses to elucidate to him her change of heart. It’s convincing, understandable, and way better than the “I don’t love you” explanation we often get. The second is the stab at the very end. While the physical assault add to the angst factor, I like the neat (probably unintended) parallel between the physical pain and the mental pain.

Posted in Autumn's Concerto, CDrama, Recap ]]> http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/next-stop-happiness-episode-6-recap/feed/ 8 irugnotmis http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/fantasy-zhu-xian-to-follow-chinese-paladin-3/ http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/fantasy-zhu-xian-to-follow-chinese-paladin-3/#comments Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:44:46 +0000 irugnotmis http://iurgnotmis.wordpress.com/?p=10407 ]]>

Fantasy Zhu Xian

I noticed I still have eight episodes of Chinese Paladin 3 left to finish and… they are kind of still in the oven…

This is why I’m posting about Fantasy Zhu Xian — as a teaser — since it consists of the Chinese Paladin 3 cast. Or most of them anyway.

Eight-minute Preview

In line with other Tang Ren productions, Fantasy Zhu Xian is based on a video game. There is an interesting symbiotic relationship between the video game and the drama. The actors attract attention for the newly launched game and the game, while growing in popularity (and revenue), keeps the fans’ interest railed up in time for the drama to air next year. (I see cash flow on both ends of the bargain.)

From costume to set, Fantasy Zhu Xian is visually stunning, which, sadly makes Chinese Paladin 3 pale in comparison. There is a certain amount of visual clutter in the fight scenes, but given how fantasy-esque the drama looks, it’s unlikely to be much of a problem. In any case, I’m pretty excited for it.

Fantasy Zhu Xian Comic Strips

Click to view them. A word of caution: they are rather silly.

via mhzx: 1, 2, 3

Did I mention Ren Guangxi has a brain tumor? Well, he has a tumor and it’s 5 cm in diameter; big enough, bad enough, that if he doesn’t surgically remove it, he’ll have only a few months to live. If he does decide to remove it, there is only a 15% chance for survival. Say, he does the surgery and survives it, he’s still susceptible to blindness, paralysis, or become a vegetable. Oh, just so you know, the aforementioned conditions are only a few of possible byproducts of the operation.

It’s no wonder Guangxi is spotted staggering out of the hospital, running like a mad man.

He has every reason to do so.

For 25 years, Guangxi’s been wasting his life away shuttling between women, hockey, and self-imposed misery — all because of a childhood incident that scared him for life. But Mucheng’s existence changed everything. Through her, he found kindness, a purpose and most of all, love.

If he was diagnosed earlier, before he met Mucheng, he might not have cared. Life was a monotonous drag then. But now? When he’s just discovered happiness? When he’s ready to change, ready to treat life seriously for once and for all?

This is a cruel joke (and an overused Kdrama plot device).

Unaware of the fate that’s befallen Guangxi, Mucheng is patiently awaiting Guangxi’s return for dinner.

When Guangxi’s initial anger dies down, so does his will to live. If he were to die, he will die with dignity, not as some postoperative half-wit. Surgery is out of the question.

When Mucheng finds Guangxi at school the following morning, Guangxi’s demeanor is that of cold indifference. He pretends to have forgotten about his dinner date with Mucheng and tells her that he went out with three (imaginary) hot chicks and partied till sun rise. What? Did she think one trial will change the way he is? Don’t be absurd. The confession is simply a tactic, employed to win the sympathy of the jury. Now that the case is over, they don’t have anything to do with each other anymore.

Mucheng is hurt but persistent. She had promised to make food for him if they win. They did and now, she is fulfilling her promise.

She hands him a bento and for what it’s worth, tells him, “Whatever your intention, I thank you for your help. I… I made you my father’s favorite food, because it contains my most valuable memory. I hope you’ll like it.” He takes it but makes sure she knows he’s accepting it only to get rid of her. Once out of the door, he makes a point to toss the bento in the trash.

Mucheng sees Guangxi’s nonchalance, sees the love crumbling, but she doesn’t see the pain written all over his face once he turns away…

She keeps a strong face in public but once alone, the force holding back the tears retracts. They fall like raindrops into the soup. (Let’s ignore the fact that it’s been a day and she still hasn’t refrigerated that pot of soup.)

Two women are sad because of Guangxi and what is our playboy doing?

Let’s see… Sexing up and wasting away. But hey, I’m not judgin’.

Once or twice? Fine, his friends can play along. But after n days of repeated indulgence, they start to worry. Finally, Jacko just couldn’t hold it anymore. He lets it all out: Mucheng’s gone back to her old place; with Ah Cai still on the loose, isn’t Guangxi the least bit worried about what might happen to her? With Hua Tuoye gone and Guangxi turning his back on Mucheng, the poor girl has no one left. And a storm is about to come, can Guangxi really bare the thought of Mucheng struggling alone in the rain in order to earn a meager living?

In the face of genuine concern, even Guangxi has to budge. He rushes out to Mucheng’s side…

Mucheng is helping out at the fish market. When her hirer senses that a storm is coming, he hurries away with the fish, leaving Mucheng to take care of the rest.

Now, my sophisticated readers, do you know what happens next? (Hint: she’s near the water) Mmmhmm, Mucheng falls into the water while retrieving the fish net. Following the golden rule of Kdrama logic, her foot gets tangled and she needs help. So she remembers Guangxi’s promise that he’ll come when she speaks the magic words: Open SESAME! Ren. Guang. Xi. “Ren… Guangxi… save me…” gathering her last strength, she yells.

And sure enough, the gallant hero shows up, jumps in the water, and saves the damsel in distress. Ta-da!

Okay, let’s get serious.

By the time Guangxi sends Mucheng home, it’s thundering outside. He seats Mucheng down on a chair and wraps a towel around her, rubbing her, giving her warmth, and checking to see if she’s okay. He spots a cut and quickly fetches the first aid kit. Gently balancing her wrist on his knees, he fidgets how best to treat it. “Why were you there?” Mucheng asks sharply. (I beg your pardon, didn’t you call out to him?) Guangxi freezes in mid-motion, then averting his gaze, he mumbles, “You seem fine. I should get going.” He gets up to leave but Mucheng stops him, “You haven’t answered my question.”

He refuses to answer and steps out but she follows stubbornly, “Are you going to tell me you passed by accidentally? Are you going to convince me you didn’t take me home because you care about me? Or are you going to make me believe that I’m mistaken about us?” “What happened there… What I did was something anyone who happened to be there would do. I should really get going–.” “This is my last night here.” Mucheng cuts him off. “The new vendor will move in tomorrow. So no matter how much my presence annoys you, I’ll be gone by tomorrow. But before I leave, I have one last question for you: what happened to you?”

Guangxi coldly replies that he shouldn’t have to waste time answering pointless questions like that, it’s none of her business anyway. But she stops him a third time, “It’s too late. I’ve already fallen for you.” He denies his feelings for her but she reminds him of the 101 incidents where he fought to protect her, “If you plan to reject me, give me an explanation instead of pushing me away.”

The thunder roars outside.

Barely suppressing the tears, Guangxi replies, “I’m dying.”

Disbelief overwhelms Mucheng but something deeper, stronger, takes over. She grabs him and kisses him. When their lips pull apart, she teases, “This is the worse rejection I’ve ever heard.” “Maybe tomorrow I’ll…” She cuts him off with another kiss. “Mucheng, do you not understand, I…” And another. Smiling faintly, she moves his palm to her cheek and leans against it adoringly. “I heard you,” she says, “loud and clear.” He pulls her into an embrace, and with all the tenderness he could muster, he kisses her.

“Even with my condition, are you willing to be with me?” “Yes, silly.” With that, she stands on her tip toe and kisses him one more time. But this time, more fierce and more passionate than the rest. After that, they feel their way to bed and made love.

In the morning, Mucheng asks Guangxi to show her here his tumor is. He points to a patch of hair and asks her, “Are you scared?” She replies by kissing his head. Their lovey-dovey moment is interrupted by a knock at the door. It turns out to be Guangxi’s mother. Although she disapproves of Guangxi’s choice (mainly due to her prejudice against Mucheng’s socio-economic status), ostensibly, she remains civil. Her goal in coming here today is to persuade Guangxi into accepting treatment; to her surprise, Guangxi agrees instantly. Mucheng has convinced him that every opportunity to live is a risk worth taking.

Once alone with Mucheng, the mother makes it clear that the only reason she’s tolerating Mucheng is so Guangxi will go through with the treatment. Then abiding by the second golden rule of Kdrama logic, she offers Mucheng a check to buy her service during Guangxi’s hospitalization. Mucheng declines.

Mucheng praying for Guangxi

In private, president Fang proposes for Guangxi to undergo proton therapy. Problem is, the only provider on the island (TW is an island!) is President He, Yiqian’s father. Guangxi refuses point blank. “Look,” he says, “If this is your plan to push Yiqian and I together, then no thank you.”

Treatment starts the following day. Guangxi is overwhelmed with MRI scans, CT scans, EEG, and even a spinal tap (owie!). And yet, his condition seems to only worsen. The first observable sign of deterioration is his lack of control over motor function. Guangxi is experiencing involuntary tremor, bad enough that he can’t shave himself.

Mucheng steps in and offers to shave Guangxi, delicately putting it as a girlfriend-type duty that she’ll happily oblige. They enjoy a brief couple-moment as Mucheng carefully shaves Guangxi but the implication of Guangxi needing help on a simple everyday-activity hangs heavily in the air. At last, Guangxi breaks down and sobs in Mucheng’s embrace.

Mucheng had considerately recorded “Air on G-String” on her cell phone for Guangxi, both to remind him the story behind the music and to encourage him to fight on. That night, Guangxi falls asleep with the music, clenching the cell phone close to his heart…

—

Comments

The plot is very formulaic and presents no element of surprise (meaning it’s not what one would consider well written). In a case like that what distinguishes a drama relies heavily on the acting and the chemistry between the characters. With that regard, this episode feels a little two-dimentional.

Ady An expressed her anxiety filming intimate scenes and it definitely showed in the acting. With that said, there are a couple noteable scenes (examples: 1) when Guangxi symbolically held the phone to his heart and drifted asleep with the music in the background and 2) the glum undertone in the shaving scene). But not enough to make one sigh at the end of the 70 minutes and marvel, “it’s a good episode.”

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